There are other good martial arts but among these Wing Chun is a simple, elegant, effective and street ready martial art. Wing Chun does not teach a set pattern of combat. It trains you to respond freely, thus increasing its practicality.The secret to Wing Chun’s effectiveness is that it initially trains a person to respond by sight, and then advances to responding to touch. Response to touch is up to nine times faster than the body’s response to direct visual inputs. Wing Chun also trains you to use both hands and both legs without discrimination. Most students find that Wing Chun training improves their coordination, balance, stamina, self-confidence and overall well being.

Some other reasons for studying Wing Chun at the Saskatoon School of Kung Fu include:

- A clean, secure, friendly atmosphere in a professional training studio.

- It is an excellent aerobic workout, and it improves body tone and flexibility.

History of Wing Chun

Wing Chun is an orthodox Shaolin kung fu over four hundred years old and based on techniques originally developed at the famous Shaolin Temple. The style is named after a woman, Yim Wing Chun. According to legend, a Buddhist nun, Ng Mui, taught Yim Wing Chun so Yim could fend off an aggressive, unwanted suitor. At that time the Shaolin temple had been destroyed and most of the monks had either been killed or dispersed. The martial system is thought to have been created as a quicker way of training advanced fighting skills to aid in the Shaolin monk’s subsequent efforts to overthrow the Ch’ing government and restore the Ming emperor. Over a thousand years of martial arts knowledge was condensed into a single fighting style.

Although the monks failed in their quest, Wing Chun Kung Fu endured. As with many Chinese martial arts, it was secretly passed down through the generations in a family until being taught publicly in Hong Kong by the late Grand Master Yip Man. Some famous practitioners include Wong Shun Leung, William Cheung, and Bruce Lee.Over time various branches of Wing Chun have evolved. The best known, and the one we teach, is the “Hong Kong Style” or “Yip Man Style”. However, it should be noted that even Yip Man modified the forms over the course of his lifetime. Some students prefer his early teachings; others, such as Bruce Lee, made their own adjustments.

Wing Chun Forms

The first form is called Sil Lum Tao, which translates into “The Little Idea”. This form incorporates most of the theoretical basis for the art. The other empty hand forms, Chum Kui and Bil Jee, enhance and augment the concepts presented in the first form.

The Mook Jong wooden dummy is designed so that almost all of the techniques can be practiced on it. The wooden dummy reinforces correct stance, arm positions, stepping and the direction of energy. The wooden dummy represents an opponent with which to train, thus allowing you to practice even when you don’t have a partner.

Chi Sau, which literally means ‘sticking hands’, is the most important facet of Wing Chun training. Chi Sau gives a heightened sense of awareness, that greatly enhances your contact reflexes.

Wing Chun theory stresses the importance of two principles: a straight line is the shortest distance between two points; and, if you control the centerline you optimize your defense and offense. Wing Chun relies on speed and finesse developed through training your body’s sensitivity and reflexes, rather than having to resort to brute force. It is characterized by close-quarters fighting strategies, lightening-fast hand techniques and effective low kicks. The blocks and strikes are targeted to have maximum effect. These qualities make it an ideal martial art for everyone regardless of size, strength, flexibility, age or musculature.